When I was a kid, my mom used to turn on the radio in the morning and tune it to Hour of Power.
This choir brought me back to those days in the early 40s, sitting at my mother’s knee, listening to the organ and the angelic voices. Travel back in time with me!
Jesus said, “I love you and you are mine!”
Rest today in that Blessed Assurance.
Have a Terrific Tuesday!
As this day – a day in the USA to remember and honor our veterans – draws to an end, I am encouraged by the ways God reassures us of our destiny… and theirs.
My heart goes out to the parents, spouses, children, and loved ones of our fallen heroes. God bless those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our country and our freedom.
But my greatest gratitude goes to my Lord who assures us that He will bring us home … and He will be our strength, our light, our hope.
In 1991 David Haas, inspired by Ps. 46:10, Isaiah 43:1 and John 14:27 wrote “You Are Mine,” a song that speaks to my soul.
“I will come to you in the silence,
I will lift you from all your fear.
You will hear my voice,
I claim you as my choice,
Be still and know I am here.
I am hope for all who are hopeless,
I am sight for all who long to see.
In the shadows of the night,
I will be your light,
Come and rest in me.
Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you each by name.
Come and follow me,
I will bring you home;
I love you and you are mine.
I am the strength for all the despairing,
Healing for the ones who dwell in shame.
All the blind will see, the lame will all run free,
And all will know my name.
I am the word that leads to all freedom,
I am the peace the world cannot give.
I will call your name,
Embracing all your pain,
Stand up now, walk and live!
Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you each by name.
Come and follow me, I will bring you home;
I love you and you are mine.
He said, “You are mine.”
And He meant it for Eternity.
In His Promises there is peace and assurance.
God bless you. Believe! You belong to Him.
And He has your loved ones in His Hand.
See ya tomorrow.
Last night we attended a dinner celebrating the 244th birthday of the United States Marine Corps and honoring our veterans.
The gentleman on the left in this photo is Don Bowen, a Marine veteran. He and his wife, Toni, invited us to attend. Don and Toni are the realtors who had our house built. They lived in it for the first 6 years before we bought it. I have a special spot in my heart for this couple.
The birthday cake was cut by the oldest Marine present (91) and served by the youngest one (42). I thought that was a nice tradition.
All branches of the service were recognized with a toast to their service to our country. Bob served in the army when we first were married.
That opportunity to live in Germany while Bob served in the military got our marriage off to a wonderful start. I was stripped from my comfort zones: family, friends, language, culture, job… and placed in a “strange land” where I needed to rely on my husband, my inner core, my faith, and my ability to learn and adapt.
I landed a job (by God’s Grace) teaching first graders on the army base – it was mid-year, February – so it really was a God-thing!! And we became life-long friends with the Schallers, whose chalet we shared. Ah memories!
On this Veterans Day, I think back to those years of service and I remember all who sacrificed for our freedom. I live in gratitude – forever thankful for all who served and who are serving in our military today.
In a perfect world, we would need no armies. We would just love one another, and we’d all live in peace. Ah, I long for that day. But, I’m afraid it won’t come til Heaven. Nevertheless, I will strive for that peace in my life.
You, too, right?
See ya later!
When I posted this, it was supposed to be a tribute to a fellow blogger who shared Maya Angelou’s poem, “Continue.” But, when my post aired, the poem was missing. I have since tried to find it, but to no avail… until now.
I wrote, “I love this Maya Angelou poem. I had not seen it before. Have you?” And then, there was no poem for you to see!!
One thing I did find during my search was this quote by Maya Angelou, “My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to allow humor to lighten the burden of your tender heart.”
This is our month on JanBeek of gratitude and kindness… and Maya’s heart and talent surely expand the love this blog is meant to share with you.
I continued my search for her poem titled, Continue, and finally found it!! It was on Phil Ebersole’s blog with a sub-title of, “Thoughts about politics and the passing scene”
Maya Angelou
My wish for you
Is that you continue
Continue
To be who and how you are
To astonish a mean world
With your acts of kindness
Continue
To allow humor to lighten the burden
Of your tender heart
Continue
In a society dark with cruelty
To let the people hear the grandeur
Of God in the peals of your laughter
Continue
To let your eloquence
Elevate the people to heights
They had only imagined
Continue
To remind the people that
Each is as good as the other
And the no one is beneath
Nor above you
Continue
To remember your own young years
And look with favor upon the lost
And the least and the lonely
Continue
To put the mantel of your protection
Around the bodies of
The young and defenseless
Continue
To take the hand of the despised
And diseased and walk proudly with them
In the high street
Some might see you and
Be encouraged to do likewise
Continue
To plant a public kiss of concern
On the cheek of the sick
And the aged and infirm
And count that as a
Natural action to be expected
Continue
To let gratitude be the pillow
Upon which you kneel to
Say your nightly prayer
And let faith be the bridge
You build to overcome evil
And welcome good
Continue
To ignore no vision
Which comes to enlarge your range
And increase your spirit
Continue
To dare to love deeply
And risk everything
For the good thing
Continue
To float
Happily in the sea of infinite substance
Which set aside riches for you
Before you had a name
Continue
And by doing so
You and your work
Will be able to continue
Eternally
Thank you, Phil Ebersole, for sharing Maya’s poem. I’m glad I located it again so I could share it here.
And thank you, Maya Angelou, for your life and shared wisdom. I hope St. Peter introduces us when I get to Heaven.
I wish I had known Maya personally, don’t you?
If you’ve followed my blog for a week or more,
You know that I attend the Presbyterian Church
in Ennis, Montana each Sunday, and I take sermon notes.
I take them in poetry – that’s just the way my brain
filters the message as I hear it.
It helps me listen, and remember,
and share with Bob when we get home.
Today’s sermon by our pastor, Rev. Steve Hundley, was
titled, “What is Heaven Like?”
Here’s my take-away on it:
If Heaven is as it should be,
Then I’m gonna sit on the bank
Of a beautiful river with my rod
And thank God for every yank.
But I know Heaven is beyond
My wildest imagination.
I know it’ll be flowing with life,
With no death, tears or stagnation.
I’m gonna ask God for help to
Understand what Heaven is like;
And since I have a Harley here,
I’m gonna ask if I’ll have my bike.
I’m gonna ask God for help to
Understand how I’ll recognize
The loved ones who went before me.
Will I know ’em when I look in their eyes?
Our Bible assures us that we
Will experience joy beyond bounds,
So I’m sure I’ll know the angels
Who’ll welcome me with glorious sounds.
I know I’ll be healed and whole
In Eternity with those I love.
So, Heaven will be as it should be
When I join my Lord in Heaven above.
When I get to Heaven, I’m gonna
Run and leap like a frisky deer.
So, when I leave this earth, friends,
Don’t weep, don’t cry; Take joy and cheer!
It’ll be Thanksgiving
with all our loved ones gathered ’round,
and it’ll feel like a Homecoming!
Hah!
See ya tomorrow.
Faith in what will be
Powers all of us forward
Let go past -and live!
Last night the sun set
And today a new day dawns
Make it a fresh one!
Who hears your sorrow
When it’s hidden in your heart?
Only those who care
Be the one who cares
Listen closely with your heart
Practice love each day
Be that very one
Who hears the hidden sorrow
And reaches to love
Have a Blessed Saturday.
See ya later.
Prayers Requested
A couple days ago I asked you to pray for my cousin, Cliff, who had esophageal cancer and had his esophagus removed. I know some of you are praying people who take requests like mine to heart and actually add CLIFF HURN to your prayer list. I want you to know how much I and his family appreciate it!
Prayers Answered
Today I received the following news from Cliff’s daughter, Heidi:
“You can see from the smiles that Cliff had a great day… and of course it helps that he’s surrounded by his favorite ladies 😉 The nasal tube is gone – good news since that means he can wear his CPAP and get some sleep, he has a new feeding tube installed near his tummy, and he finally gets to eat ice chips! Who knew these milestones would be so exciting!?”
Continued Prayers
Continue those prayers, please.
We are hoping Cliff can go home on Monday.
His wife, Janine is a nurse.
Between his daughters, spouse, and God, he is in good hands.
You are beautiful
You’re loving and you’re sincere
You care and you share
Love is palpable
With smiles on both their faces
Inner beauty shines
Beautiful people
Reach out to others in love
In all walks of life
People like Bob Goff
Reach out and help folks “Dream Big”
He knows that “Love Does”
Beautiful people
Look for those who are hurting
And they lift them up
You can lift them up
You don’t have to be a priest
To be used by God
Just being yourself,
Your beautiful loving self,
Is more than enough
You are beautiful
Your unconditional love
Enlarges your heart
Hearts are expanding
With each act of sincere love
You exude pure joy
Beautiful person,
– Sami, Elko, Nevada –
Shares love at her work
Make the world better
Be the beautiful person
God made you to be
Do you know you are a Beautiful Person?
I do!
SEE YA LATER
Arts education includes not only the visual arts, but also music, culinary arts, and all forms of creative expression.
The difficulty in auditory performing arts education is that excruciating learning period before clarinets stop squawking and violins stop screeching. Unlike my mother, who couldn’t stand it and sent me and my clarinet out to the shed across the driveway to practice, the teachers can’t send the students outside to learn! At least not all the time!
Those darling violin students that I introduced you to yesterday do not sound (yet) like the YouTube video I posted of beautiful violin virtuosos. God bless the teachers, students, and appreciative audiences who recognize the learning process and love them through the squawks and squeaks!
Support arts education in your schools and in the independent Arts Academies that teach visual and performing arts after school and on weekends. God bless those teachers! Ya gotta love ’em!!
Don’t hide your face and cover your ears.
Don’t send ’em out to the shed!
Ya gotta love ’em!!
Hugs to You !!
Inspire to Love
Let the SonShine!
You inspire me to respond
Learning to Live; Living to Learn; Learning to Love; Living in Love
